The Secret of Riddles

Chapter 5: Not Changed

"Shhh!" James said to his companions as they tiptoed down the halls silently. "Do you want us to get bloody caught?"

Hugo looked back at where his sister and cousins were supposed to be, hidden beneath his uncle's invisibility cloak. He rolled his eyes and a small snicker told him that they agreed.

Once the group had separated and set off towards their own destinations Rose took the lead from under the cloak. "Alright, here let me go first. I'm the only one who has probably been to the library on a regular basis," she said taking out her wand and leading the way.

Lily turned to her brother. "Bossy, isn't she?"

Al rolled his eyes at his younger sister. "Well, she is Aunt Hermione's daughter, now isn't she?"

"Would you two be quiet please for five seconds? I would rather not be caught and expelled!" she whispered, though you could still hear the Hermione-ish tone there.

Albus rolled his eyes at her, but stayed silent as Rose led the way down the corridor.

They continued silently for a few more minutes before Rose stopped abruptly, causing Albus and Lily to slam full force into their cousin.

Rose turned her head quickly to face Al. "What was that for?"

"I'm sorry, but your brake lights were out," Al whispered back to his aggravated cousin.

"You're going to get us caught," Rose said to him. "Do you really want that to happen?"

"It already has," a voice said and it took about one second for the cloak to disappear from on top of them.

Rose's eyes grew as she turned to face their herbology Professor.

"What are you three doing out here?" Neville said before Filch appeared around the corner they had just come from, holding James and Hugo in each hand. Neville adjusted his assessment and said, "Rather you five?"

Rose looked back at James, who just gave an 'I'm sorry' look.

~

I had Apparated silently outside of the headmistress' office and was about to enter to have a meeting with Dumbledore about my impending decision when Neville Longbottom came sprinting up the steps. I felt a slight tingling as I completely disappeared, then quickly pressed myself against the wall. Invisibility around wizards meant everything when I was involved.

The Longbottoms' boy knocked on the door and Headmistress McGonagall answered easily with a yes. I wondered if she thought it was I.

"Headmistress..." he started before stopping suddenly. "Hey."

"Hello, Neville," three voices said in unison, Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I was suddenly glad that I hadn't entered the room. It could've not only gone against our previous plans, but ruined our new ones as well.

"What were you about to say, Neville?" McGonagall asked from the other side of the door.

I could tell Neville was smiling. "Guess."

McGonagall answered slowly, "I don't think I need to. Where is he?"

"Actually it's they."

I heard a chair scrape against the ground and McGonagall's voice said, "Will you three come with us?" I heard a few more chairs scraping. "Neville, lead the way, please."

The door opened and I had to dodge the swing of it as the five proceeded down the staircase, tapping McGonagall to make sure she knew I was there. A glance to my general location meant she understood. With that, however, she was gone.

I entered the study quietly and felt a slight tingle as I became visible once again.

"Ah, if it isn't another sneaky Gryffindor," Snape's portrait quipped at me.

"I haven't been a Gryffindor since the '70s, Severus, nor was I aware that such rude statements would be made at me if I obliged to come to this meeting," I replied. "Speaking of..." I turned to Dumbledore with a glare. "What the bloody hell were they doing here? Are you trying to blow everything?"

"That nasty temper will give you away, my dear," Dumbledore replied, his image tapping close to his eyes. Only then did I notice that my eyes had been hot. Burning a shade of crimson instead of my natural blue

I blinked twice and the feeling went away. "Sorry, sir, haven't rid myself of that aspect of my heritage as of yet."

"It's a wonder you weren't in Slytherin," Snape added coldly. "You belong there."

My eyes itched but I controlled my temper in an attempt to keep the red from my irises. "Funny, Snivellus, I've heard that before and let me assure you that I don't. As someone else we all knew pointed out the second I was in Gryffindor," I replied with a humorless smile.

"It shocked even I," Dumbledore shot in.

"Was she that awful?" Severus asked gleefully.

"Going to hold some childhood behaviors over my head now, Severus? Last I checked you were a Death Eater. How long did it take for you to see the light? If I can recall correctly it took a huge shove for your conversion to our side to ever happen. So keep your snide remarks to yourself you kraut."

"What an insult, you called me a kraut..."

"If you knew everything you wouldn't be saying that," I replied, my eyes burning with the glare I shot at him.

"Alexis."

I turned my attention to Dumbledore. "Yes?"

"Any developments?"

"Not that I have been able to tell. Though I can tell you something is going on with Tom. I can almost feel his presence in Little Hangleton," I said almost wincing at the name of the town. Funny how something as simple as a name can bring about pain.

"When we thought we had finished him..."

"Tom cannot be finished THAT easily," I interrupted.

"The dead cannot be awoken," Snape commented.

"As far as you suspect, Severus, but you do not know magic that few know. The Death Eaters have found it. They are slowly bringing him back. This time we have to prepare ourselves," I replied.

"Have you been able to break through to the others to let them know what is to be done?"

"Not yet. I'm waiting for a for sure sign that we must."

"But we must!" Severus exclaimed.

"Precautions must be taken before we perform this deed. If I am to do it then I'm not about to ruin it by not being cautious. Bad things may happen if done hastily," I sneered to the greasy-haired picture.

"Take your precautions, Alexis, but remember, time is of the essence," said Dumbledore.

"Time is always of the essence," I replied rolling my eyes and Disapparating out of the study.

~

"Well you are definitely living up to your given names," Harry said to his son James as all of his children and two of their cousins were led back to the Headmistress' office.

"And I can't believe that you joined them," Ginny said to Albus and Lily. According to Harry's ears Rose and Hugo were getting a similar lecture from Hermione. Ron played his role well, a disappointed look on his face that sent the message silently as the children were being verbally scolded. It sent the message of 'I'm too upset to even say anything' - one that was often more effective than a Howler.

"Sorry, Mum," they said in unison.

McGonagall told the password to the gargoyle and the group climbed up the stairs and entered the office. The children stood directly in front of the large desk as McGonagall took her place behind it. "Why is it always you, James?" She asked in an exasperated tone.

"Can't help myself?" he offered with a small grin.

The Headmistress' face, however, did not lighten at the joke. "I would almost expect this sort of behavior from James, but you four as well? I am shocked especially at you, Miss Weasley."

Rose ducked her head. In her two previous years she had never had to go to the Headmistress' office. Having only five points ever taken from her for 'accidentally' hitting one of the Greengrasses with a jelly legs jinx. Something that Scorpius had thanked her for repeatedly, considering he had been the target for some nasty remarks before Rose had intervened.

"The only other surprise here is that Mr. Malfoy is not with you all..."

"He's getting here tomorrow," Al piped in, earning the attention of the adults. "His parents took him to France for the summer hols this year. Last year it was Australia..."

"I didn't ask for Mr. Malfoy's travel history, Mr. Potter, and Draco and Astoria have already alerted me to their son's arrival plans, but thank you anyway," McGonagall stated looking over her spectacles at the boy. Like Rose, Albus ducked his head too.

Harry couldn't help but smile slightly at the look he had often received when he was at school.

"You all shall receive detentions, served individually of course, and will be given to you by Professor Longbottom before noon tomorrow. Considering that your parents are already here, I'm glad that parchment does not have to be wasted to alert them of your misdemeanor. Now you will return to your dormitories and stay there for the rest of the night. Professor, could you escort them," McGonagall said, giving a quick glance at Neville before motioning them all to leave.

James, Albus, Rose, Hugo, and Lily said goodbye to their parents for the second time that day and silently left the office, Neville shutting the door behind them.

"I know that James has your cloak and that it is a father-son tradition, Harry, but if I ever have to confiscate it I will," McGonagall warned, "and I may not give it back until Lily has successfully completed her seventh year."

Harry nodded with a small smirk. "I understand completely, Professor."

McGonagall smiled at him. "Now then you four..."

"Professor, now that Snape and Dumbledore are... out, could you possibly enlighten us to what exactly Dumbledore even said," Ron interrupted. "I know Hermione understood all the long-winded statements, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one confused."

When neither Harry nor Ginny spoke up to disagree McGonagall stood up and walked around her desk, contemplating what to say. "Professors Dumbledore and Snape are not able to say much about the situation, just know that something is happening and that when the time comes everyone will know the truth. However, it is not they that decide. It is another."

"A girl?"

Professor McGonagall froze and stared straight at Harry, who had spoken. "Excuse me?"

"Is it a girl?" Harry asked again. "I've had two visions of this girl and..."

"What do you mean visions, Potter?" the Headmistress said, addressing him in the same manner as if he was still a student.

"My scar has an itching sensation and I get these memories, or flashes, of things," he stated.

McGonagall thought about his words for a few seconds before replying. "Harry, the things that you have seen are better forgotten at the moment. Forget they ever happened."

"So there is a girl," Hermione stated.

"I never said that," Professor McGonagall replied coolly.

"But..."

"Now that is quite enough talk of these matters. I am rather tired and would like to get a decent amount of sleep before I have to deal with multiple rule breakers," McGonagall stated motioning towards the fireplace and pot of Floo Powder by it.

~

Not much had changed in Little Hangleton over the years. I could still see the small houses, the big houses, the graveyard with the headstones RIDDLE, and all the same families that inhabited the small town. The only real differences that had taken place over the last twenty years, technology aside, were seen by those magical few who had been there frequently.

There was a distinct change in the mood, a feeling carried on the air. Not all was normal in Little Hangleton. Something dark was growing more and more. I sat there obediently, watching changes and people. Studying what was occurring so I could report back and better equip whomever about whatever.

The Riddle house, high on its imperial hill, still stood at a distance from where I sat in a ruined and abandoned shack. It was the epicenter of the growing darkness and I took some sick pleasure in spending my energy glaring at it. Repeating in my head all of the curses and words I could possibly ascribe to it.

Tom Marvolo Riddle. His namesake would be proud of him and his imperial attitude. Tom Riddle Sr. was nothing short of a pompous man who only surrounded himself with those who he deemed good enough. Marvolo Gaunt was a pureblood lover who deemed himself royalty because of his Slytherin ancestry. Tom took that attitude to his 'Lord' level. As much as Voldemort did not want to be like his father, the parallels were funny to look at.

Yes, Little Hangleton had not changed much.

~

"Why were you talking to Tommy?"

"It's none of your business now is it?" the strangely robed man replied camly and simply. His crooked nose reminding her of the nose she had bestowed upon Gregory Daley with her fist.

"Stop." It was a command, not a request. Her voice was hard and chilling.

The strange man turned to face her, a look of intrigue and perhaps even worry on his face. She smiled sweetly.

"Why were you talking to Tommy?"

"I'm a distant relative..." But before the man even finished his thought he was interrupted by a piercing glare. It was as if the child was looking straight through him and into his soul.

"Do not lie to me. Tell me the truth."

The voice was cold and hard, reminding him slightly of the boy's, only it was more forceful. As if she was even more powerful than the boy he had just spoken to.

"You may ask Tom if you wish. Remember that it is knowledge better left unknown," he replied carefully. The child, no more than eight, with fierce blue eyes and hair the color of the boy's just stared at him before responding.

"Who are you?"

"I am Professor Albus Dumbledore. And you must be..."

"None of your concern." A noise came from down the hall and Dumbledore turned for a fraction of a second to see, but when he turned to look again at the strange child she was gone.

The Professor went to find the matron, Ms. Cole, in her office. "Excuse me," he said, waiting for her to look up from some bill or another in front of her, "the girl?"

"Ah, I see you met the boy's little shadow. Inseparable and uncanny in alikeness, did she question you?" Ms. Cole asked.

"Yes, but I did not say much."

"I'm surprised she let you. Willful she is. The two don't get on with any of the others. Strange things you see. Like I told you before, the two of them are odd. Very odd indeed."

"Well," Dumbledore said, "I will leave and perhaps see you again."

Ms. Cole took a moment to respond. "Alright, goodbye, sir."

Professor Dumbledore stepped from the office and shut the door. Revealing, behind it, the strange girl, looking at him with that probing manner of hers.

"You lied."

"You listened," Dumbledore said with a small smile.

"I found out the truth before that. As you knew I would."

"Ah, did I?" Dumbledore asked calmly. The child continued to look at him, as if he had done something gravely wrong.

"Yes, you did." It was not a question.

"You see..."

"Some knowledge is better left unknown."

He smiled. "Yes. It is restricted knowledge, and you mustn't tell anyone."

The girl considered him for a moment. "All knowledge can be considered restricted, some more than others. It is all in the decision of the knower."

Dumbledore looked at her. Behind the face was a type of intelligence that scared him. It was intelligence, but in the hands of an impulsive and young child. Some things would have to change.